ASAP Rocky Testifies in Assault Trial, Admits to Being “Really Scared” Before Fight

On Thursday (Aug. 1), the Harlem rapper, who's accused of assaulting 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari, testified in a Swedish court and made the case that he acted in self-defense in the fight that has had him behind bars since July 2. BBC News reporter Maddy Savage was in the courtroom to document Rocky's testimony.

During the hearing, Rocky admitted that he was scared just before the fight took place.

"These guys were, you know, their behavior was very weird and we didn't know what to expect," said Rocky, who pleaded not guilty to assault with his two co-defendants, Bladimir Corniel and David Rispers, this past Tuesday. "It got a little scary for us. I couldn't help but assume that these guys were under the influence of some type of drugs."

Rocky explained his entire side of the story and said the reason he and his crew were there at all was because they were trying to download an app that would allow them to rent out the electric scooters they were near to ride back to the hotel. It was then that the alleged victim and his friend approached them and began harassing the crew. Rocky says that incident eventually led to his bodyguard pushing the men away.

The alleged victim was then joined by another friend who exited Max Burgers restaurant, and that is when the major altercation occurred, according to Rocky. The prosecution is alleging that the rapper and his crew used bottles as weapons. In court, Rocky denied this but did admit to holding a bottle at one point during the fight. He says he put the bottle down after realizing it was stupid. A big part of the case appears to be about whether Rocky and company used bottles during the fight.

Rocky's testimony arrives one day after footage of his bodyguard choking the alleged victim surfaced on the internet. Rocky was in court with two members of his entourage who are also being held in a Swedish jail. They could face up to two years behind bars if found guilty. Five more witnesses are expected to testify in the trial.